CASE STUDY · COMMERCIAL SOLAR INSTALLER · 4 MIN READ
B.Solar: Moving Into Commercial Solar, and a Nearly 2MW Farm Site That Started With One Email
- commercial projects being priced
- 4 or 5
- commercial projects being priced
- the largest, a farm site, waiting on approval
- Nearly 2MW
- the largest, a farm site, waiting on approval
- on that farm site
- 9 meters
- on that farm site
- of work on that site, in their words
- 6 months
- of work on that site, in their words
In short
B.Solar is a domestic and commercial solar company based in Essex near Stansted Airport, working across the South East. Going into 2024, its main aim was commercial work. Our team ran its cold email campaigns from late December, and by the interview B.Solar was pricing four or five commercial projects, from about 50 kilowatts up to one of nearly two megawatts on a farm site with nine meters, waiting on approval. Here is what it says about nurturing commercial jobs and showing the savings.
A domestic installer pushing into commercial
"B.Solar is a domestic and commercial solar energy company", based in Essex near Stansted Airport and working within the South East of England. Going into 2024, the plan was clear: "that's our main aim is to push on to commercial properties for the solar industry".
It had tried other routes first: "I've tried other commercial lead gen and not got very far". Our team started cold email campaigns for B.Solar in late December, which is not the best time to email businesses, as the team said in the interview, because so many people are out of the office.
Four or five commercial projects, up to nearly 2MW
we pricing up for for about four or five different commercial projects with with one nearly two megawatt across the line we're just waiting on on the approval
The projects ranged from about 50 kilowatts to the two megawatts, so B.Solar would not call any size typical. The largest is a farm: "it's got I think nine meters on site", and "it's going to be a good sort six months worth of work on that site". Our team's account in the interview is that it started with one small email to the founder, which was nurtured into a call.
A multi-meter site of that size is a full connection application. Our guides to DNO applications for solar and the G99 application checklist cover the steps and what to gather first.
Showing the savings in black and white
B.Solar uses video calls to get in front of the customer and walk them through the figures. For a business, the savings are the argument:
if you can put it in black and white in front of them if the figures make sense then it's it's an absolute no brainer
Our commercial solar payback calculator and capital allowances guide help you put those figures together.
Why commercial takes time
B.Solar does not pretend commercial is quick. Unlike domestic, "it's not an overnight thing it's a lot of nurturing it's a lot of conversations", and businesses often wait for the start of a new financial year: "they might not want it done till six eight months a year down the line".
That is why it puts effort into "building up that rapport with them", and why it was pushing two projects across the line while nurturing the rest. Our guide to how to sell commercial solar covers keeping a long sale moving.
you guys have come through with some brilliant leads
The full interview is in the video above. TNW Marketing's own write-up of B.Solar's interview is on tnwmarketing.com. More installers talk about their leads in our case studies and on the reviews page.
B.Solar case study: FAQ
Where is B.Solar based?
In Essex near Stansted Airport. It installs for domestic and commercial properties within the South East of England.
What size commercial projects was B.Solar pricing?
Four or five, ranging from about 50 kilowatts to nearly two megawatts. The largest, a farm site with nine meters, was waiting on approval at the time of the interview.
Has B.Solar's nearly 2MW farm project gone ahead?
Not at the time of the interview: it was waiting on the approval to go ahead. B.Solar expects it to be about six months of work.
How long do commercial solar jobs take to close?
In B.Solar's experience, it takes a lot of nurturing and conversations, and a business may not want the work done until six to eight months or a year after it is priced, often waiting for its new financial year.
Related guides
- DNO application for solar
Find your DNO, pick the right route (G98, G99, G100) and get connected.
- G99 application checklist
Everything to gather before you submit.
- Commercial solar payback calculator
Work out how long a system takes to pay for itself.
- Capital allowances on solar panels
How businesses claim tax relief on a solar system.
- How to sell commercial solar
From booked survey to signed contract.
- All case studies
Installers on video, and what they got.
- Commercial solar leads
Survey appointments with business owners, booked for you.
Browse leads free
Commercial solar survey appointments with business owners near you. Look at as many as you like, and only pay for appointments that are actually attended.